Award Categories

The City of Toronto will accept entries for the 2011 Toronto Urban Design Awards in the categories listed and described below.

1. Elements
2. Buildings in Context – Private
3. Buildings in Context – Public
4. Small Open Spaces
5. Large Places and Neighbourhood Designs
6. Visions and Master Plans
7. Student Projects

1. Elements
A stand-alone object, landscape element or small-scale piece of a building which contributes significantly to the quality of the public realm. Submissions may include, but are not limited to: benches, doorways, signage, canopies, porches or colonnades, gateways, light fixtures, walkways, stairways, barrier-free access, fences and works of art.
Elements summary (PDF)

2. Buildings in Context - Private
An individual building or a composition of buildings, that achieve(s) urban design excellence and is precedent setting for a project of its type through its relationship to the public realm, pedestrian amenity, detailing and massing, and the natural environment. Submissions should document and highlight how the project contributes to successful city-building through its contextual relationship and measures of sustainable design.

All types of buildings are eligible whether "landmark" or "background," new construction or a restoration/transformation. Projects in both urban and suburban contexts will be considered.

The Building in Context category consists of three sub-categories that reflect a range of scales. Entrants should clearly state in which of the following sub-categories they are submitting:

1. Low-scale
   A low-scale project is four storeys or less, not withstanding its land use. Submissions may include, but are not limited to: residential uses such as houses and townhouses; and retail, office, or industrial facilities on main streets and arterials.
   
   Low-scale summary (PDF)
   
   
2. Mid-rise
   A mid-rise building is generally taller than a house or townhouse, but no taller than the street right-of-way which it faces (typically 4-12 storeys). Submissions may include, but are not limited to: mixed-use "Avenue" buildings, small apartment/condo buildings, commercial and industrial buildings.
   
   Mid-rise summary (PDF)
   
   
3. Tall
   A tall building rises higher than the width of the right-of-way of the principal street on which it is located. A building that has both tall and mid-rise components should be entered in this category. Submissions may include, but are not limited to: residential or commercial buildings.
   
   Tall summary (PDF)
   
   

3. Buildings in Context - Public
An individual building or a composition of buildings, with a primary function to serve the public and/or is largely accessible to the public. Public Buildings are focal points for communities of various sizes, from small neighbourhoods to a national body. Submissions should demonstrate urban design and architectural excellence through a relationship to the public realm, pedestrian amenity, detailing and massing, the natural environment and sustainable design.

In this category, all building scales are eligible (low-scale, mid-rise and tall), as well as new construction and restoration/transformation. Buildings in both urban and suburban contexts will be considered.

Submissions may include, but are not limited to: education, health care, recreation, cultural, community and civic buildings.
Buildings in Context - Public

4. Small Open Spaces
A small open space, generally related to and defined by adjacent buildings or natural/manmade elements, which provides an extension and addition to the public realm in an exemplary way.  The small open space need not be publicly owned, but must be publicly accessible.  Submissions may include, but are not limited to: courtyards, plazas, forecourts, gardens, trails, mews and small neighbourhood parks.
Small Open Spaces

5. Large Places or Neighbourhood Designs
A design plan for a new or renovated large-scale area of the city. The project must be completed to such extent to allow the jury to clearly understand and evaluate the plan. The submissions in this category should clearly state the existing conditions and demonstrate how City objectives for establishing a clear public structure of streets, parks, open spaces and building sites are met.

The submission should also highlight major areas of innovation, particularly those related to infrastructure, environmental management and sustainable design, as well as provide evidence of community involvement and acceptance.

Submissions may include, but are not limited to: large parks, area/district plans, neighbourhood plans, Transit Oriented Developments (TODs), subdivisions, industrial parks, campus plans and streetscapes. Both urban and suburban contexts will be considered.
Large Places or Neighbourhood Designs

6. Visions and Master Plans
Unexecuted visions for the city, studies and master plans of high inspirational value with the potential for significant impact on Toronto's development. Submissions in this category may include but are not limited to: theoretical and visionary projects, as well as any project fitting the description of Large Places or Neighbourhood Designs that is unbuilt.
Visions and Master Plans

7. Student Projects
Students in urban design, architecture, landscape architecture and other design programs are invited to submit theoretical or studio projects relating to Toronto.
Student Projects

Note: The jury reserves the right not to present awards in every category. The jury also reserves the right to reallocate submissions into categories which they deem to be most appropriate.

For more information please contact TUDA@toronto.ca